Teams are happy anytime they can beat St. Anthony, and it is an even greater accomplishment when somebody manages to defeat the 27-time state champion from Jersey City in back-to-back seasons.

Roselle Catholic did not just top coach Bob Hurley's squad for the second straight season on Saturday night, the No. 12 team in The Star-Ledger Top 20 knocked off No. 6 St. Anthony, 60-57, at Pine Belt Arena in Toms River to win back-to-back NJSIAA/ShopRite Non-Public B titles against the Friars.

"We believed we had enough talent. We believed we had enough heart to win this game," said Roselle Catholic coach Dave Boff, whose team also won the Tournament of Champions last season. "I think everybody in the state at different times doubted us. But the kids in the room never doubted themselves."

Isaiah Briscoe was on the St. Benedict's team that ended St. Anthony's 83-game winning streak last February, and he was instrumental last night as well. The highly touted point guard totaled 24 points, eight rebounds, five assists, a block and two steals. Twelve of those points were scored in the fourth quarter when the Hudson County squad seemed poised to pull out the victory and secure state title No. 28.

"I didn't have any points in the third quarter," Briscoe said. "Third quarter's over. In the fourth quarter I said, 'You know what, man? I need to take over this game. I need you to go play. Go be Isaiah.' And I did just that. And as you can see, my teammates helped me out. Everybody played their role completely."

"That's what he's here for," Roselle Catholic swing man Matt Bullock said. "That's why he came to this school. That's what we needed in this game and that's what we needed on this team."

Bullock hit a 3-pointer to tie the game at 50 off an assist from Briscoe with 4:18 left in the game. Briscoe, a junior, then split two defenders and was fouled as he finished with a reverse layup. He made the free throw to give Roselle Catholic a three-point lead and then hit a pull-up jumper that maintained that lead at 55-52.

St. Anthony had a chance to win the game in the closing seconds, but Markis McDuffie's shot missed and Briscoe grabbed the rebound. He made four straight free throws to ice the victory.

“I think we were less athletic and less mature and we were a pile of nerves at the start," Hurley said. "We're not a blue-collar team because we're athletic. But we were playing against probably the most talented team in the state."

Briscoe also had 11 points in the second quarter, helping Roselle Catholic build an 11-point lead. But St. Anthony closed the half on an 8-0 run and trailed just 29-27 at the half.

"I just tried to remind them that at the beginning of the game, a three-point lead at the half would have been good," Boff said. "We'd be happy with that. So, don't worry about the fact that you were up 11 and now you're only up three, just be happy with the fact that we're up two. Another half like that, you'll win."

St. Anthony guard Jagan Mosely was held scoreless in the first half, but got on the board with an exuberant one-handed put-back dunk early in the third quarter. He had half of his 14 points in the third quarter and St. Anthony took its first lead, a 35-34 lead with 5:19 left in the period. The two teams went back in forth in that quarter, with Bullock overcoming a frightening moment that appeared to be a serious knee injury. But it kept him out of the game momentarily and he finished a conventional three-point play with 1:46 left in the period.

St. Anthony took a three-point lead that stretched to five with a Mosley layup. Bullock answered back with a 3-pointer that cut it to two points before hitting the 3-pointer that tied the game at 50 and set up Briscoe's heroics. The sophomore finished with 14 points, 11 rebounds, three assists and a steal.

McDuffie led St. Anthony with 21 points while also grabbing five rebounds. Mosely finished with six rebounds and five assists along with his 14 points.

"St. Anthony went on their run and then we went on our run," Briscoe said. "Guys got to understand that basketball is a game of runs. Whoever gets their run last, they're pretty much going to win. At the end, down in crunch time, everybody on my team stepped up."

Roselle Catholic moves on to the Tournament of Champions, where it will look to defend its crown. Briscoe is relishing the challenge.

"Games like this are just amazing," Briscoe said. "The scenery, the support, the game. Just everything. This is why I came here."